His Precious Love

Rayna stood there in a stupor for a long while. Only when the two men came out of the operating room and called her did she snap out of it.

The men’s faces were swollen and covered in bruises, and Rayna deduced that Curtis’ subordinates must have shown no mercy.

“Sorry you had to go through this.”

She paid them double and told them they could leave before departing, returning to the company to deal with some matters.

When it was five in the evening, she drove to the residential area Curtis lived in, but instead of going in, she called Carl. “Pack your things. I’m waiting for you at the entrance of the residential area.”

“Sure,” said Carl without asking her why. A few minutes later, Rayna saw him coming out with a suitcase. Lucky was trailing behind the little boy, wagging its tail.

Rayna got out of her car and placed his suitcase in the trunk. Then, she looked at the dog. “He can’t come with us.”

“Why?” Carl really wanted to bring the dog with him, so he pleaded, “Please, Ms. Rayna. Let him come with us. Mr. Curtis never takes him around for walks. That’s just sad.”

For a moment, Rayna wanted to relent, but she gritted her teeth and said with determination, “No. He belongs to Curtis. Take him back.”

“But Ms. Rayna—”

“One more word and I’m leaving you behind as well.”

Taking note of Rayna’s cold expression and her non-negotiable tone, Carl lowered his head and despondently brought the dog back. A moment later, he came back looking dejected.

Rayna took him back to the condominium. She had informed Jessica about Carl staying temporarily in the room next to hers, and Jessica agreed to the arrangement.

After the boy settled down, Rayna was about to take him to Kristie’s place.

Larissa had just returned from her grocery run and was about to make dinner. The first thing she saw upon opening the door was a boy standing next to Rayna. Stunned, she asked, “Ms. Garland, who is this?”

kid. He’ll be staying with me for a while. He might come here a lot, so

greeted Larissa politely,

you’re a good boy, Carl.” Larissa patted his head. “Come in. So what would you

dinner tonight.

right. I’ll

was chicken soup in the kitchen. Rayna would often come to visit, and every time she came, she would insist on cooking for Kristie and everyone

some noise outside, emerged from her chambers. “Nana? Are you

Her mood improved, her morning sickness had subsided, and she even gained a little

her and introduced, “This is Ms.

and asked, “Aunt Kristie is staying here,

sleeping. You’ll see her once she

still sleeping? Is she not feeling

tone, Jessica explained, “She insisted that I watch a scary movie with her last night, and she got so spooked that she couldn’t sleep the whole night. I saw her still scrolling Twitter when

asked, “You should’ve stopped her. Why did you join her? Jess, you’re pregnant. You should at least take good care of yourself. Do you think horror movies are good

let me sleep either.” Jessica shrugged. “And

Words eluded Rayna.

it good? I want to

it’s quite good. Come. I’ll put

“Okay!”

bring Carl to the living room before shaking her head with

helped her friend out, she said, “I thought he was

lips, she explained, “I’m worried no one’s going to take care of him. Aside from Mr. Faymon’s dog, Carl had no one else to play with. But

too good.” A momentary pause later, Jessica asked, “Are you all right,

“Yes. Carl isn’t, though.”

food, Rayna calmly related to Jessica about what happened to Jasmine and Theodore. She told Jessica all about Emma sending a woman Theodore’s way, and how Theodore impregnated the woman. Rayna also didn’t leave out the part where she tried aborting the woman’s child but Curtis ended up

nothing but shock and befuddlement in her eyes. Eventually, she snapped out of it. “He should know how she got pregnant, right? So

he does. He said the Nicholsons and Xaviers are good friends, and that Selena is Noel’s only daughter. If I tried to harm Selena, the Nicholsons would

and tried to defend Curtis. “He was trying to protect you. He didn’t

make me abort my